S Poddar
Tottenham Hotspur was fantastic as the team ensured their 3-0 victory at Old Trafford over Manchester United, which sent shock waves in the football world. But former Manchester City defender and football pundit Micah Richards observed one tactical decision that Ange Postecoglou made as manager of Spurs which he believes sealed the match as a decisive win.
Richards was particularly appreciative of the manner Postecoglou chose to play Dejan Kulusevski, claiming this was a “masterstroke” that made all the difference. For Tottenham, it was already a good season for their new manager and combined creativity with discipline, something Manchester United, at the moment, lacks in order to find form.
A Catastrophic Day for Manchester United
It is further revelation of a fragile, disjointed Manchester United side-the game, of course, featuring times of frustration for Manchester United-such as when the red card was handed out against Bruno Fernandes, their captain-after an incident deemed controversial by most-as it further relaxed a helpless United side, increasing pressure on the manager Erik ten Hag, whose future at the club grows increasingly perilous. This defeat does little to alleviate the growing criticism around his tenure and whether he can succeed in lifting the fortunes of the club.
For United, it is yet another low point in what has been an inconsistent season. A team which had hoped to mount a serious challenge for silverware now looks more into uncertainty, with ten Hag needing to navigate a crucial period in order to stabilize his position as head coach.
Postecoglou’s Tactical Insight
Richards was quick in giving all the credits to Postecoglou for Tottenham’s fine performance, especially noting how the manager used Kulusevski in the game: A versatile player of attack, Kulusevski has been used in a manner that maximizes his contribution to the game. It caused constant headaches for United’s defense as he drifted between the lines, brought in-line linking of play, and, more importantly, created possibilities for knocking the United backline open.
“It was a masterstroke from Postecoglou,” Richards said. “The way he set Kulusevski up, allowed him to exploit the spaces, and then pressurized United’s defense. It’s not about how good the players are; it’s how well you know how to use them properly. That is what Postecoglou did.”
That was a tactical move that forced United’s defences into difficult positions, so spilling out proved to be Tottenham’s attackers. Playing fluid, Kulusevski gave Spurs the space to dictate whatever space they needed, while United continued to struggle in dealing with the intensity and fluidity of Tottenham’s attack.
United: Continued Meltdowns
The game was just the latest installment in an otherwise dismal run of form this season for Manchester United. Erik ten Hag has been under intense pressure as his performances have not up to the expectations that are placed upon them. With the loss to Tottenham just the latest frustration for the United faithful who complain that the team is going the wrong direction.
The sending off of Bruno Fernandes added to United’s woes, while the highly contentious red card decision led to a lot of debate between whether the red card was deserved and whether it was harsh. Be that as it may, his absence for so much of the game played on to expose United in the absence of one of its playmakers.
With this latest defeat, ten Hag now has a decisive week determining his fate at the club, and things will get clearer as to whether he can send United back on track or the pressure upon him will increase further.
Tottenham’s Promising Season
On the other hand, Tottenham’s season with Postecoglou at the helm keeps picking up pace. The win at United marks the progress they have made since the Australian manager took over the helm of the team. Under Postecoglou, Spurs have dared to play an attacking game that is fluid and completely engrossing, and won the hearts of football fans all over the world. This approach has seemed to rejuvenate the side, especially at the hands of Kulusevski, who seems to be thriving under his gaffer.
Old Trafford produced a statement result, showing Tottenham are truly serious contenders this season. Everything they have done tactically and competitively has given Spurs a solid foundation to strive for a top-four finish possibly even more than that.
In summing up Postecoglou’s tactical acumen, Micah Richards underlined the growing belief that Tottenham are a force to be reckoned with under their new manager. It will be fascinating to see how far Postecoglou can take this rejuvenated Spurs side along the course of the season ahead, especially if they continue producing performances like the one seen against Manchester United.
There has been a lot of ups and downs for most Premier League teams this season, but the rise for Tottenham under Postecoglou serves as refreshing storyline. With Manchester United trying to find their way through inevitable, Spurs are back in a great run, and that in large measure goes to the tactician acumen of his manager and how he is bringing out the best of his players.
